Dixie; He was
nicknamed Dixie, because of his dark skin. Dixie was a reference to
the Deep South of America where so many black people lived. Dean,
despite his boisterous manner, was an intelligent and deep thinking man
and he thought Dixie was an insult - more to the Deep South than to him. He could not abide it.

According to the 1911 census,
William is the youngest of six children and the only son to William and
Sarah (née Brett). They live at 325 Laird Street in Birkenhead. His father is a loco
engineman.On 8 October 1930, in a court case against Dean, his
address was stated as being Wellesley Street in Birkenhead. He was charged
with dangerous driving on 21 August after he knocked down a woman who was
boarding a tramcar, of which he was aquitted.At Christmas 1933, Dean
was living at Caldy Road in Walton, when his prized possessions were
stolen, his international cap and a presentation clock. Again, on 4
April 1940, Dean was summoned to court for non-payment of taxes on his
sports outfitters shop (opened in Birkenhead, July 1934). Now living at
New Ferry in Cheshire, he owed £22 1s. 5d.. The case was adjourned
to see if Dean could ell his business that had been making a loss since
the outbreak of war.

Married

to Ethel Fossard, 19 July 1931 at St James'
Church, Birkenhead[registered in
Birkenhead, September 1931] died in 1974. Four children, William J.
(1932), Geoffrey D. (1935), Ralph L. (24 September 1936) and Barbara A.
(1945).

Died

1 March 1980 in the Main Stand at Goodison Park, Everton, aged 73
years 38
days[registered in
Liverpool, March 1980]. Following a heart-attack, watching the
Merseyside Derby.Funeral at St. James' Church on Laird Street

*William Ralph Dean was one
of the game's greatest goal-scoring centre-forwards throughout the
twenties and thirties; In 1936 he topped Steve Bloomer's long-standing
scorer's record. Tranmere, Everton, Notts County and Sligo Rovers all
figure in his story.
- A Football Compendium, Peter J. Seddon (1999).#Dean made his
debut for Tranmere in 1923 at the age of 15. This biographical treatment
covers those early days before he achieved folk hero status at Everton.
- A Football Compendium, Peter J. Seddon (1999).

Club Career

Club(s)

Played for Birkenhead Schools and Moreton Bible Class. Ehile he was an
apprentice fitter on the Wirral Railway, Dean played his junior football
with Heswall FC and Pensby Institution FC, from where
Tranmere Rovers FC signed him as a fifteen year old in November 1923,
originally as an amateur and scored 27 goals in thirty league
appearances. Despite interest from The Arsenal FC and Newcastle United
FC, Dean joined
Everton FC in March 1925 for £2500, and despite a bad motor-cycle
accident in Holywell in the 1926 spring, which fractured his skull, only
returning in the October, he would play 399 league matches, and score
an astonishing 349 goals. The New York Giants 'Soccer' team offered £10,000
for Dean in July 1928, offering £25 per week in wages. [Real] Madrid
CF even courted Dean's services in January 1932, again offering £25
per week. Even Burnley FC in September 1937 were rumored to be after him.
In all cases, Dean was not interested. Dean was eventually transferred to Notts County FC on 11 March
1938 for a £3000 fee. After struggling with an ankle injury, he had his registration cancelled by Notts County FC in early January 1939
after nine league games and three goals. Instead of giving up un
football, he then accepted an offer to sign
for Sligo Rovers FC on 20 January 1939. In the meantime, however, County
still owed £1000 of the original transfer fee, so on 1 February 1939, after
the Notts club had sent deputation, Everton allowed a £500 rebate. Which was duly
paid. Dean made seven Irish league appearances, scoring ten goals.
He finished his career in the Cheshire County League with Hurst FC on 23
July 1939, after which he retired, totaling 379 goals in 437 league
outings. He had had numerous operations on his ankle, removing
loose bone.

Distinctions:
Holder of the Football League seasonal scoring record
(sixty in 1926-27).In 1928, Dean
fronted an advertising campaign for Wix Cigarettes. His statue
(left) was unveiled outside Goodison Park in May 2001.

Douglas Lammings' An
English Football Internationalist Who's Who [1990]

Dean was obliged by ill-health to give
up his employment as a Chester licensee, The Dublin Packet, in 1962, after
which he worked for the Littlewoods Pools.
In November 1976, due to his declining health, Dean had his right leg
amputated because of a blood clot. - An English Football Internationalists' Who's Who.
Douglas Lamming (1990). Hatton Press, p.85/86.

Billy Dean - Goal Record - When The 18 Goals Were Scored

0-5

6-10

11-15

16-20

21-25

26-30

31-35

36-40

41-ht

ht-50

51-55

56-60

61-65

66-70

71-75

76-80

81-85

86-90

injury

extra

time

0

1

0

1

1

1

1

1

0

1

0

1

3

3

2

1

0

1

0

0

6

12

0

Billy Dean - Career Statistics

Squads

Apps

Comp.
Apps

Mins.

Goals

Goals
Av.min

Comp.
Goals

Capt.

Disc.

16 +

16

10

1440

18

80 min

5

none

none

Due to the fact that
many matches rarely stuck to exactly ninety minutes long, allowing time
for injuries, errors and substitutions. The minutes here
given can only ever be a guideline and cannot therefore be accurate, only
an approximation.